ins.

In column of companies or platoons the color guard is midway between
the color company and the company in rear of the color company and
equidistant from the flanks of the column.

In close column the color guard is on the flank of the color company.

In column of squads the color guard is in the column between the color
company and the company originally on its left.

When the regiment is formed in line of masses for ceremonies, the
color forms on the left of the leading company of the center (right
center) battalion. It rejoins the color company when the regiment
changes from line of masses. (_C.I.D.R., No. 2._)

773. The color guard when with a battalion that takes the battle
formation, joins the regimental reserve, whose commander directs the
color guard to join a certain company of the reserve. (_C.I.D.R., No.
2._)

774. The color guard executes neither loadings nor firings; in
rendering honors, it executes all movements in the manual; in drill,
all movements unless specially excused.

_To Receive the Color._

775. The color guard, by command of the senior color sergeant,
presents arms on receiving and parting with the color. After parting
with the color, the color guard is brought to order arms by command of
the senior member who is placed as the right man of the guard.

776. At drills and ceremonies, excepting _escort of the color_, the
color, if present, is received by the color company after its
formation.

The formation of the color company completed, the captain faces to the
front; the color guard, conducted by the senior sergeant, approaches
from the front and halts at a distance of 10 paces from the captain,
who then faces about, brings the company to the present, faces to the
front, salutes, again faces about and brings the company to the order.
The color guard comes to the present and order at the command of the
captain, and is then marched by the color sergeant directly to its
post on the left of the color company.

777. When the battalion is dismissed the color guard escorts the color
to the office or quarters of the colonel.

_Manual of the Color._

778. At the _carry_ the heel of the pike rests in the socket of the
sling; the right hand grasps the pike at the height of the shoulder.

At the _order_ the heel of the pike rests on the ground near the right
toe, the right hand holding the pike in a vertical position.

At _parade rest_ the heel of the pike is on the ground, as a